CD Reviews

The perfect performance? The perfect piece of music?

Mr. Ian George Fraser | Brazil | 03/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great deal of critical ink has been spent on Brahms' late chamber music. Is this just elegant nostalgia or could Brahms perhaps have been a closet gay? Re: his extravagant praise of the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld? Was Brahms the first jazz composer?

You may not ever have listened to Brahms before. If not you in for a treat. This is the most gorgeous music ever composed and yes it is tinged with regret and nostalgia, but the clouds break on many occasions into beautiful sunlight...and, well I don't wan't to start driveling, so let me just say I enjoyed both these pieces as much as I have ever enjoyed any music ever and that I can't imagine them being better performed. What is required here is clean lines, immaculate phrasing and clarity of tone and all of the superb performers on this CD provide that in abundance. I'd like to single out Janet Hilton as clarinettist. Although she pushes her instrument to its limit in terms of volume, which of course you have to do in the context of the extreme passion of some sections of the Quintet, her tone never "breaks" and this is an absolutely masterful performance. Peter Frankl is a fine accompanist in the predominantly sunny and relaxed Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, though not without fire in the occasional stormy interludes. Read the criticism but above all enjoy the music. There is so much of it on this small CD."